WEA courses

Would you like to experiment with textiles and sewing but are not sure where to start? This online course is a great introduction to gaining more confidence in creating your own pieces of textile work with fabric and basic stitching. The course is suitable for beginners and improvers who would like to dip into creative textiles and uses simple stitching to add texture and details. You will have the opportunity to come up with your own ideas and create a textile picture with tutor guidance using the techniques you will be learning throughout the sessions; each learner will have a unique composition at the of the course.

This comprehensive course is designed to introduce participants to the art and technique of photography. Covering the fundamentals of camera operation, composition, lighting, and post-processing, students will learn how to create compelling images that capture moments and tell stories. Through hands-on practice, interactive lessons, and critiques, participants will develop their technical skills and artistic vision, enabling them to produce high-quality photographs. Whether using a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or smartphone, this course is ideal for beginners and those looking to enhance their photography skills.

To improve skills and knowledge through personalised learning and support progress towards further independence.

This course will enable you to design and make hand built pottery. You will learn how to apply different decorating techniques to enhance the surface of clay work. You will have opportunities to explore personal projects developing creative skills and bring ideas to life. Make use of sketch books as part of research and idea development. Experience and share the excitement of the pottery process from raw clay to the fired kiln.

Join like-minded crafters and our enthusiastic tutor and create a range of beautiful gift bags and boxes, along with gorgeous personalised tags and decorative bows. This course is all about the gift wrapping and we will be making lovely gift boxes in a range of sizes – and with the formula I will share with you you can make them any size you wish! We will also be making gift bags in a variety of sizes all with matching gift tags and finished off with a handmade bow. Utilising the skills you already have and hopefully adding some new ones we will make our own festive wrapping, all matching and looking fabulous under the tree. Crafting is a fun and rewarding way to enhance your mental well-being, helping to manage the stress we often feel at this time of year. Come and join our friendly fun group and get crafting! This course is for beginners to paper-crafting and for those who are creating gift bags and boxes for the first time. More experienced crafters are of course welcome too.

Work towards GCSE-level maths skills with this functional skills level 1 course. Progress your maths skills to help you access work and study opportunities. Functional maths improves your numeracy skills through real-life situations. Learn maths in context. Develop practical maths skills to help you in everyday situations such as organising your personal budget or applying discounts when shopping. This level 1 functional skills maths course can help you get a GCSE-equivalent qualification in maths. You’ll learn practical maths skills employers look for. Functional Skills qualifications are free if you don't already have a GCSE in English or Maths at grades A*-C, or 4-9. We'll check your level and any previous qualifications before you start. This ensures you are on the correct course. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The course will explore the enriching links between stories, art and music, concentrating of works from 1920s. From the surrealistic art in France and expressionist art in Germany to the many operas, ballets and symphonies which characterise that tumultuous period. In America, it is frequently referred to as the "Roaring Twenties" or the "Jazz Age", while in Europe the period is sometimes referred to as the "Golden Twenties" because of the economic boom following World War I (1914–1918). French speakers refer to the period as the "Années folles" ("crazy years") emphasizing the era's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism.

Master the basics of sewing with our comprehensive Sewing 1 course. Learn essential techniques and create your own projects. Ideal for beginners looking to develop their sewing skills.

This course will explore four novels: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James; Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame; Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence; The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford, and the work of one poet, Thomas Hardy, specifically Poems 1912-1913, a record of his reactions to the death of his first wife. We will discuss the end of Empire, the rise of Modernism and Feminism and psychological study, and the political situation leading up to 1914 and changing perceptions of individual and national identity. There will be ample opportunity for discussion and a chance to reassess what may in some instances be familiar texts.

Would you like to learn new skills or change jobs? It can be hard to get back into learning after a long break. This confidence training will prepare you to feel comfortable stepping back into the classroom. This short course can help you bridge the gaps in your confidence and overcome the obstacles standing in your way to get back into learning. The objective of this course is to get you into a positive mindset to achieve your goals. You will practise a variety of confidence-building exercises to help that mindset shift come from within.